23-07-2025
San Diego boat captain slams into US warship
A San Diego man was arrested after crashing his 65-foot vessel into the USS Midway and allegedly fleeing while under the influence. Frank D'Anna, 40, was driving his private boat, dubbed the Offshore Lifestyle, when the watercraft collided head-on with the port side of the decommissioned aircraft carrier just before 2 pm on Friday.
A viral video of the crash - captured by WarshipCam - shows the unbelievable moment the vessel collided with the historic warship in broad daylight. D'Anna's significantly smaller motor vessel can be seen approaching the monstrous aircraft carrier head-on before the destructive crash.
The private vessel, allegedly manned by a liquored-up captain, left a visible dent in the hull of the USS Midway, which now serves as a floating naval museum and one of San Diego's top tourist attractions. The crash caused an estimated $100,000 in damage, including repainting and repairs to the ship's corrosion prevention system, a spokesperson for the USS Midway told Fox News.
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported and the suspect's vessel sustained only minor damage and was not at risk of sinking. Authorities said the boat fled the scene following the collision but was intercepted in the San Diego Bay near the Coronado Ferry Landing. The boat's operator was later arrested after all seven individuals aboard the vessel were questioned by the police and identified D'Anna as the boat's driver at the time of the crash.
The damaging crash has also raised concerns among locals and tourists about maritime safety. 'I mean it's sad,' James Hickson, a downtown resident of the iconic Southern California city, told 10News. 'If drunk driving is the case, it's pretty sad that you would make that decision to put a lot of folks in danger.' Jagjit Bhambra, a Navy veteran visiting the Midway, questioned how such an incident could happen in daylight. 'I think we need to examine who was the captain of the little boat, why was he so close, how he did not notice such a massive ship in front of him,' Bhambra said.
His wife, Mary Bhambra, suggested security upgrades may be warranted. 'It's a famous ship. Maybe a fence around it or something like that… a lookout for approaching hazards,' she said. The Port of San Diego and USS Midway Museum have not issued additional public statements as the investigation remains ongoing. The USS Midway is one of the most iconic features of San Diego Harbor, attracting millions of visitors annually. Named after the pivotal June 1942 Battle of Midway, the USS Midway was built in just 17 months and commissioned on September 10, 1945, just one week after World War II ended. As the lead ship in a three-carrier class, it featured an armored flight deck and carried up to 120 aircrafts.
